Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Iraq on National Strategy for Iraqi Women, Raise Questions on Survivors of Sexual Violence Committed by ISIS and Impunity for “Honour” Crimes
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Iraq. Committee Experts commended the State party on adopting the national strategy for Iraqi women, while raising questions on how Iraq treated survivors of sexual violence committed by members of ISIS, and impunity and mitigating circumstances for so-called “honour” crimes.
A Committee Expert commended the State party for its adoption of several national strategies, including the national strategy for Iraqi women, demonstrating compliance with the Convention.
Rangita De Silva, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Yazidi survivors’ law no. 8 of 2021, passed by the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 1 March 2021, formally recognised that the crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian communities constituted genocide, and provided for a framework of reparations. How were health care and reparations provided for children born from rape by ISIS? How could women victims of rape be agents of justice and have their voices heard? There had been significant trials of ISIS fighters for terrorism, but very few trials based on sexual violence and rape. How would the State ensure survivor-focused justice?
Another Expert said the Committee was concerned about legal provisions which allowed the husband to punish the wife, as well as violence which existed within the home. There was also impunity for so-called honour crimes, and marital rape was not recognised. When would Iraq rescind these provisions? When would domestic violence be recognised as a crime without exception? When would mitigating circumstances be done away with?
Introducing the report, Zaidan Khalaf Obaid, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq for Human Rights, said the Government had established the Higher Council for Iraqi Women, chaired by the Prime Minister and supported by the National Iraqi Women Department, with 72 units across ministries and governorates. Iraq had adopted key national strategies, including the national strategy for Iraqi women (2023–2030), the strategy to combat violence against women and children (2018–2030), and several plans to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.
Responding to questions, the delegation said centres had been created to support victims of ISIS, with treatment being provided at the cost of the Government. Identification health cards had also been provided to survivors of Daesh to receive healthcare free of charge. All services, including psychological care and vaccines, were provided to child victims. Around 2,496 persons were covered by the survivors’ law and received a monthly salary. Survivors living overseas could file their application online without having to come to Iraq. Full confidentiality was guaranteed for survivors, and any complaint could be sent directly to the specialised court.
The delegation also said no violence against wives and children was permitted under the Iraqi Penal Code. Article 409 provided mitigating circumstances for a husband who killed his wife after finding her in an inappropriate position with her lover, and punished him with three years’ imprisonment. This did not consider the gender of the victim or the perpetrator. If the behaviour was premeditated, the murderer would have the full punishment imposed on them. Recently, the Iraqi Sovereign Court had ruled that women could also benefit from these mitigating circumstances under the Iraqi Penal Code.
In closing remarks, Mr. Obaid said Iraq believed in cooperation with the Committee which would make it possible to strengthen women’s rights. The recommendations and concluding observations would be considered when strategies were being drawn up, to ensure Iraq met its obligations under the Convention.
In her closing remarks, Nahla Haidar, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the fruitful dialogue. Iraq was a great country, and Ms. Haidar had confidence that the Committee would be heard after this dialogue.
The delegation of Iraq was comprised of representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office; the Ministry of Higher Education; the Kurdistan Regional Government; the General Secretariat for the Council of Minsters; the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Health; and the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninety-second session is being held from 2 to 20 February 2026. All documents relating to the Committee’s work can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 5 February to begin its consideration of the seventh periodic report of Lithuania (CEDAW/C/LTU/7).
Report
The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Iraq (CEDAW/C/IRQ/8).
Presentation of Report
SAYWAN BARZANI, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to upholding the Convention and introduced the delegation
ZAIDAN KHALAF OBAID, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq for Human Rights, said Iraq had faced significant challenges in recent years that had deeply affected the human rights situation, including security threats posed by the terrorist organization Daesh; grave violations perpetrated by ISIS against Iraqi society, particularly women; waves of internal displacement; and serious climate challenges such as desertification, droughts, and reduced water levels from upstream countries.
Despite these challenges, Iraq had made tangible progress towards enhancing women’s participation in political life and decision-making. Women played a strong role in recent elections, winning 96 seats in the 2021 parliamentary elections, 76 seats in the 2023 provincial council elections, and 84 seats in the 2025 parliamentary elections. Women also held leadership roles in parliamentary committees, including nine committee chairs and 16 vice chairs in the previous session. Women currently held senior government positions, including three ministerial posts in the current cabinet, as well as roles as heads of bodies, undersecretaries, ambassadors, judges and advisors. The position of the Advisor for Women’s Affairs was established, and a national plan was developed to support women’s political participation.
The Government had established the Higher Council for Iraqi Women, chaired by the Prime Minister and supported by the National Iraqi Women Department, with 72 units across ministries and governorates. Iraq had adopted key national strategies, including the national strategy for Iraqi women (2023–2030), the strategy to combat violence against women and children (2018–2030), and several plans to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.
To strengthen women’s economic empowerment, the Government had implemented the Iraqi women economic empowerment plan (2020–2025), launched initiatives such as the riyada entrepreneurial initiative and the vocational platform, and financed 5,000 women-led projects. Vocational training programmes were expanded, and in 2024, women accounted for 55.51 per cent of government appointments through the Federal Civil Service.
Education was a priority, with capacity-building programmes targeting women, expanded scholarships, and major investments in infrastructure. Between 2023 and 2025, 3,701 schools were built or rehabilitated. The national strategy for education (2022–2031), supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was launched to facilitate compulsory education, resulting in an increased enrolment of girls at all levels. Literacy centres for women had also been expanded in rural areas.
In the health sector, Iraq had adopted inclusive policies prioritising women’s health, expanding maternal care services, mobilising mobile clinics, and offering free access in remote areas. These efforts had led to a decline in maternal mortality between 2023 and 2025. The Government also advanced legislative reforms aligned with international obligations, including the Yazidi survivors’ law, the legal aid law, amendments protecting persons with disabilities, workers’ social security legislation, and ratification of the Arab Protocol to Combat Human Trafficking.
Human rights conditions in detention centres had been improved through measures addressing overcrowding, healthcare, free education for female inmates, vocational training, complaint mechanisms, and proposed alternative penalties legislation. Internal displacement remained a priority, with efforts focused on sustainable, voluntary and dignified returns, particularly for women and children, supported by reconstruction funds in affected areas. Iraq continued to cooperate closely with United Nations agencies through joint programmes.
The Iraqi Government believed that empowering women was not only a human rights obligation but a national vision essential to building a democratic and inclusive society.
DINDAR ZEBARI, Coordinator of International Recommendations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said he would present the measures undertaken by the Kurdistan Regional Government to implement its obligations under the Convention. Implementation of the Kurdistan Regional Government human rights plan (2022–2025) showed steady progress, rising from 42.8 per cent in 2022 to 62.3 per cent in 2024–2025. Significant progress had been made in women’s participation in decision-making. Women now held senior leadership positions, including the presidency of parliament, three ministerial posts, and a governorship.
In the judiciary, women represented 26.2 per cent of judges (69 out of 270), 43 per cent of public prosecutors, and 75 per cent of judicial assistants, with ongoing efforts to enhance their role within the Regional Judicial Council. The 30 per cent quota system strengthened women’s representation, with 147 women elected across successive terms and 65 chairing permanent parliamentary committees. A High Committee for the Protection of Female Candidates was also established to safeguard women from defamation and abuse during election campaigns.
Economic empowerment remained closely linked to social stability. Women now managed 778 companies, representing 5.75 per cent of registered companies, mainly in trade, services, tourism and technology. A total of 47,319 female workers were enrolled in the social security system. Special attention had been given to rural women through microloans for 1,198 female farmers, creating 3,873 job opportunities.
The Kurdistan Regional Government had strengthened protection mechanisms for women through transparent reporting systems. In 2024, the hotline received 12,274 complaints, and shelter services supported women at risk, with five shelters serving over 900 women annually. Between 2019 and 2025, 5,520 women were rehabilitated. Efforts to combat child and forced marriage included judicial review of 313 cases, while awareness campaigns against female genital mutilation contributed to a 60 per cent reduction in cases.
In education, female students represented nearly half of all students. Women were also increasingly represented in media, civil society and security sectors, including 1,332 women serving in the Peshmerga forces since 2021. Regarding Yazidi survivors, the Kurdistan Regional Government had recognized ISIS crimes as genocide, allocated budgets for survivor support, identified 3,593 survivors, facilitated psychological care abroad in Germany for over 1,080 individuals, and provided financial assistance to more than 3,500 survivors. Despite ongoing challenges, the Kurdistan Regional Government reaffirmed its commitment to continued legal, institutional and social reform, and to constructive cooperation with the Committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said in 2014 and 2019, the Committee had explicitly stated that article 41 of the Iraqi Constitution conflicted with article 14 of the Convention, and had recommended the withdrawal of article 41 and the Jaafari law, which had serious effects on women and children. The Committee viewed with deep concern the law 1/2025 affiliated to the personal status law, which was a setback for the State, as it legitimised child marriage. The rights of women in Iraq were facing challenges which extended to misinterpretations of international Conventions in school curricula. The Jaafari law violated the rights of women daily in many unacceptable dimensions. It was gravely concerning that the Ministry of Education had started a curriculum to demonise the Convention as a tool to disintegrate the family. This was unacceptable.
RANGITA DE SILVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee welcomed the various legislative and institutional measures taken by the State Party and the Kurdistan Regional Government to implement the Convention, including the adoption of the legal aid act of 2024, the Yazidi female survivors act 2021, and the “Genocide” Centre to document sexual crimes during conflicts.
Iraq had acceded to the Convention in 1986 but entered significant reservations, including to article 2 and article 16. Would the State party consider withdrawing reservations to these two articles? Article 41 of the Iraqi Penal Code historically granted husbands the legal right to "punish" or "discipline" their wives within limits set by law or custom. If a wife was deemed "disobedient", she may lose her right to alimony. This contravened Iraq’s international obligations under human rights treaties.
The Committee welcomed the partial abolishment of the death penalty; would the State take steps to ensure its full abolishment?
The Prime Minister had launched the “National Network of Women Peace Mediators”. How many local peace mediators, and Kurdistan and Yazidi women were part of the Peace Mediators? The Yazidi survivors’ law no. 8 of 2021, passed by the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 1 March 2021, formally recognised that the crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian communities constituted genocide, and provided for a framework of reparations. The law was a result of significant advocacy from survivors, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad. Would Iraq consider adopting the Nadia Murad Code to ensure that investigations did not retraumatise?
Were reparations in line with the Basic Principles on the Right to a Remedy. How many investigations had been opened on the basis of the law? How were health care and reparations provided for children born from rape by ISIS? How could women victims of rape be agents of justice and have their voices heard? There had been significant trials of ISIS fighters for terrorism, but very few trials based on sexual violence and rape. How would the State ensure survivor-focused justice?
Another Committee Expert asked what opportunities there were to have access to justice if the person seeking justice did not swear on the Quaran?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Constitution gave many rights to women, including the right to pass on nationality to their children. There were several laws the Government was looking into, and several articles would be examined for the purpose of amendment. Matters pertaining to domestic violence were prioritised by judges. Training courses had been launched for family courts, preventing a reoccurrence of offences. The Jaafari law raised significant issues, including the minimum age for marriage which was 18. A girl who was 15 could get married but with the legal consent of her guardian. Iraqis had the right to abide by the personal status code of their own religion. An optional law had been introduced enabling citizens to abide by Sharia law if they wished to do so.
Iraq strove to reconcile the customs of society with its international commitments. Article 41 was rescinded by a law adopted by the Iraqi Federal Court. Now, anyone committing offences of beating women or children was committing a crime; these were deemed to be harmful practices against women and children. Article 409 took into account surprise in the case of a man finding his wife and her lover in a case of adultery, leading to an act. The article did not provide for an exultation of a man who had killed his wife, but mitigating circumstances were linked to his psychological state. Under article 398, the Criminal Code allowed for alleviating sentences for the kidnapper if he married the woman he had kidnapped. This was only permitted if the woman who was kidnapped provided her consent to be married. Mitigating circumstances did not mean a light sentence.
Under the law, all Iraqis were entitled to receive health services to the highest level of physical and mental health. Iraq had a national plan to fight against violence against women and children. The State was stressing complete and equitable coverage for vulnerable sectors. Human rights offices had been opened in Ministry of Health offices in more than 1,500 locations. Medical centres had been created, and more than 125,000 men, women and children had received services.
Centres had been created to support victims of ISIS, with treatment being provided at the cost of the Government. Identification health cards had also been provided to survivors of Daesh to receive healthcare free of charge. All services, including psychological care and vaccines, were provided to child victims. The multisectoral referral manual was introduced in collaboration with the World Health Organization to deal with women, children and the elderly who were victims of violence. Health units were trained to provide counsel to these cases at all levels.
An Office had been set up to search for Yazidi survivors, which comprised a large number of security organs; it had developed a special database for missing persons. The Prime Minister had instructed that any person who provided information on the abductees would receive a substantial reward; this had resulted in the liberation of 17 abductees. Large-scale campaigns were also launched on different means of communication in displacement camps in Türkiye, Syria and Kurdistan.
Around 2,496 persons were covered by the survivors’ law and received a monthly salary. Survivors living overseas could file their application online without having to come to Iraq. Full confidentiality was guaranteed for survivors, and any complaint could be sent directly to the specialised court. Around 89 projects had been launched across various provinces for survivors. Survivors were provided with microloans to allow them to better reintegrate. Psychosocial centres had been set up and surgeries had been launched to help survivors of Daesh.
There was no specific curriculum focused on human rights. Universities were responsible for their own curricula. Abolishing article 41 would take place when the Penal Code was amended, as it was unconstitutional and not followed.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the implementation of article 3 remained weak and as a result women in Iraq did not enjoy the full advancements under the Convention. The lack of disaggregated data limited the State party’s ability to develop policies. Were there concrete steps to adopt comprehensive legislation on violence against women, ensure investigations and accountability, and remove major barriers to women’s advancements? How was it ensured that gender equality strategies contributed to women’s rights?
Another Expert commended the State party for its national legal framework for women and girls which had resulted in more than 256 female prosecutors in Iraq and three female ministers in the cabinet, among other statistics. However, women and girls remained disadvantaged in many sectors. What steps was the State party taking to achieve parity with men and women in all areas? What temporary special measures had been taken to support marginalised groups? Had the State party taken steps to monitor existing quotas and improve them from 25 per cent?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the High Council for Women had been formed, as well as the National Council for Iraqi Women. Iraq had increased women’s participation in the Government and parliament, in areas which were previously male dominated fields. The plan which was agreed in 2025 with political parties focused on female leadership and asked each party for its vision on the participation of Iraqi women. A major increase had been witnessed in the participation of women as a result, including in the Ministry of Defence. There were 1,416 female heads of directorates, among many other examples of female leadership.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert commended the State party for its adoption of several national strategies, including the national strategy for Iraqi women, demonstrating compliance with the Convention. However, violence against women remained widespread and largely underreported, with estimates that 46 per cent of married women in Iraq experienced spousal violence. Article 409 continued to allow honour as a mitigating factor for killing in Federal Iraq.
What concrete steps would be taken to amend article 9 of the Criminal Code and ensure honour would never be used as a mitigating circumstance to kill women? How would mechanisms on gender-based violence be strengthened? Were there plans to expand access to safe shelters to women victims of domestic violence? How was it ensured that police and the judiciary were trained to handle cases of violence with a gender sensitive approach?
How would the State party address backlash against gender equality, including restrictions on gender sensitive language? What measures were in place to address digital and online gender-based violence and ensure accountability and access to justice? How would the State ensure that awareness raising initiatives translated into concrete measures? Was the State aware of the extent of female genital mutilation in some parts of the country and was there a plan to eliminate it completely? When would the State adopt the Federal domestic violence law?
Another Committee Expert said under the law, those subjected to trafficking offences were penalised, which prevented them from coming forward. Would the State party take concrete steps to revise its 2025 non-trafficking law, to introduce a non-punishment clause? Could the State party provide an update on mut’ah (pleasure) marriages, including progress towards their criminalisation? What measures were in place to investigate and prosecute officials implicated in trafficking misconduct or corruption? Had these measures produced tangible results? What steps had the State party taken to implement a national database on trafficking in persons? The adoption of the new standard operating procedures for victim identification was welcome; would this be expanded beyond the judiciary? How did the State party ensure Yazidi women were protected from trafficking threats and further abuses?
RANGITA DE SILVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Islamic State had specifically used social media platforms to target and recruit young girls. It was important to address and prevent this issue.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said a department had been created to ensure a society free from violence. It received complaints 24/7, followed by interviewing the person and registering the complaint. It also notified relevant hospitals and Government bodies when domestic violence was expected. Female victims were interviewed in private rooms and follow-up was guaranteed. Victims were provided with legal aid and reintegration services back into society. A telephone line had been set up to receive complaints relating to all human rights issues. A department had also been established to combat human trafficking, focusing on plans and policies in this regard.
The creation of shelters had been overseen with United Nations Women, and other United Nations agencies as well as non-governmental organizations. There were shelters in Baghdad, which hosted survivors of domestic violence and provided legal and psychological support. Women could voluntarily arrive at the shelters to be cared for. Psychological support was provided as soon as a woman was accepted into a shelter. Social counselling was also provided for women to enable them to rebuild their lives and deal with the fear after violence, as well as workshops helping them to build their communication skills.
Safe houses had been built as an important tool to strengthen the rights of women. Iraq had launched the national strategy to combat violence against women in 2013. Forty units had been opened to provide care for women in hospitals and psychosocial centres. A document had been released with the goal of protecting women in the media, and a code of conduct for security offices was being drawn up.
Legal restrictions were being imposed on marriage to put an end to the marriage of minor girls. Around 1,291 cases had been launched against women who were subject to serious violations. A committee was in place to enact the law on trafficking in persons, as well as provisions on the cyber extortion of women.
The National Centre for Mutual Judicial Cooperation was operating and had an electronic archive of the crimes of ISIS. Committees had been established to search for missing people and to open and excavate tombs. The High Council for Women had dedicated 3 March as a national day for Iraqi women for the first time, with support given to women to hold senior leadership positions. Women’s activities were being supported by the Ministry of Finance.
Several shelters had been set up in Kurdistan to help women threatened by violence and provide them with support. Women were received in the shelters based on court orders. All staff working in these shelters received training on how to provide specialised support. There were five permanent shelters for women threatened by violence, with three working around the clock to address emergencies. These shelters provided comprehensive services to around 900 women every year. Currently 9,000 housing units were being provided to low-income families.
The Government had carried out a campaign on female genital mutilation which had provided support to around 5,000 women and girls, decreasing cases by around 60 per cent. Six cases of human trafficking in children had been registered. Coordinated efforts had been made with United Nations agencies to address victims of human trafficking.
Kurdistan aimed to combat hate speech by educating religious leaders. Multiple training courses had been held to target 1,200 individuals to enhance principles of tolerance and gender equality. Around 370 shelters had been set up to care for orphans.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said women’s representation in the 2025 elections had reached around 25.5 per cent. Given that several women candidates secured seats through direct merit, how did the State ensure article 25 of the Constitution acted as a floor rather than a ceiling? What was being done to promote the participation of women from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities? How was women’s meaningful engagement ensured when designing the legislative agenda? Was the State party considering introducing financial incentives for political parties which achieved gender parity in leadership positions? Were there plans to criminalise hate speech and deep fake technologies? What temporary special measures did the State party intend to take to enhance women’s participation in the executive and in senior and leadership positions?
The Committee commended the efforts of Iraq in adopting the third national action plan on women, peace and security. Could disaggregated statistical data be provided on female diplomats? What was being done to facilitate fast tracking for women’s career path into diplomacy?
Another Committee Expert said the personal status law 188 stated that both spouses needed to be present for birth registration, leaving women-headed households without access to documentation. Nationality and documentation barriers disproportionately affected displaced persons in the country. When did the State party plan to reform all legislation on nationality and citizenship? Could data be provided on undocumented women and children living in Iraq? The Government was invited to ratify the United Nations Convention on Statelessness.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said article 20 guaranteed the participation of women in public life, including to stand for elections and the right to vote. A High Commissioner had been established to support the political representation of Iraqi women. The electoral knowledge of women was being strengthened, and they were being provided with media training. For the first time, a Memorandum of Information was signed with the United Nations to create a specialised centre to protect female candidates from electronic blackmail and the censorship of information.
Twenty-five per cent of female representation was guaranteed in parliament and if a female seat became vacant, it was replaced by another woman. There were two parties headed and created by women. There were now six female ambassadors in the diplomatic core, with an aim to strengthen the role of female ministers who could fill these posts. Skills and competence and the ability of women to fill a vacant post needed to be taken into consideration. Currently, 18 women headed Government agencies; their applications were put forward by political parties.
To counter statelessness, Iraq granted nationality based on the nationality of the mother. An article in the law governed the transmission of nationality to children born to an Iraqi mother. According to the law, the mother passed on nationality on an equal footing with the father, without taking into account the nationality of the father or any other conditions. This law was totally consistent with the principle of equality and non-discrimination. The State guaranteed the rights of children born as a result of sexual violence. When there was a conflict and identification documents had been lost, cards were issued pursuant to Iraqi law.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the Committee noted with satisfaction that education was enshrined as a right within the Constitution and was free. Initiatives such as the poverty reduction strategy and the establishment of literary centres were appreciated. The Committee was deeply concerned that women and girls in rural and conflict affected regions continued to face inequalities and high dropout rates due to poverty and early and forced marriage. It was deeply concerning that Yazidi girls lacked access to education.
What measures would be taken to ensure that access to education for Yazidi girls and women and refugee women were in place? What was being done to increase the enrolment of disadvantaged women and girls in education? What steps would the State party take to ensure education was compulsory to girls until the end of high school? What was being done to address concerns, including the overcrowding of classrooms and high rates of school dropout? Would the State party consider reforming the curriculum to include teaching of human rights and women’s rights?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that in July 2024, a campaign was launched to combat school dropout, with more than 1,700 individuals trained by the United Nations Children’s Fund. The campaign established the number of pupils who dropped out of school and drew up a report. The teams determined the number of school dropouts and designed policies to bring them back. The campaign targeted 266,000 children and managed to reintegrate around 100,000 pupils back to school. For 2025, there were 209,000 school dropouts, among them 61,000 girls. School bursaries had been provided which aimed to encourage those who had dropped out to return to school.
Schools had been established in rural areas, and 400 centres had been set up in rural areas where there were many displaced persons. A programme had been adopted to ensure the reinsertion into school of girls who had dropped out due to early marriage. A series of programmes had been launched targeting young girls and boys who had not finished primary school.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the Committee welcomed that the State party had adopted several strategies to promote women’s economic empowerment, including the women’s economic empowerment action plan, among others. Could current data on the female labour force be provided, as well as the gender pay gap? What concrete measures had been adopted to address wage disparities?
Could data on labour inspections and penalties imposed be provided? How many complaints, investigations and prosecutions had been reported since 2019? What mechanisms existed to allow for safe reporting for female workers, especially in the informal economy? How had act 18 in 2023 expanded social security coverage to women working in the informal sector? Were there plans to expand public childcare services? How was the impact of State programmes evaluated? Had any studies been conducted on migrant workers? What safeguards existed to protect them?
RANGITA DE SILVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked what efforts had been made to address menstrual poverty and menstrual products in educational settings?
Responses by the Delegation
Iraq had endorsed more than 70 International Labour Organization conventions and was working on joining the convention on harassment at work. Under the Labour Code, women had the right to a safe working environment free from violence, as well as to maternity leave. However, some women were facing discrimination at work compared to men and were not able to rise up to higher posts due to social norms.
The implementation of the Labour Code was being supervised to ensure the provisions of equal pay and protection against violence were enforced. Training programmes had also been organised to increase women’s skills and encourage their participation in entrepreneurial projects. The State was cooperating with United Nations agencies to improve the implementation of the Labour Code and create better working conditions for women. The private sector was being targeted with awareness raising campaigns. Inspections were conducted by Committees, comprised of representatives of trade unions, among others. A company would be notified of a violation and if they did not correct it they would be referred to the courts.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert asked when Iraq planned to complete the review of relevant laws and what would be done to ensure that all citizens had access to comprehensive health care, and safe abortions? How would basic services be ensured for women living in rural areas? What measures would Iraq take to inform women about birth control and other knowledge? Was support provided to women who had given birth in the context of an early marriage? What steps would be taken to provide mental health support to women? How would women with HIV be supported as well as those who were survivors of domestic violence?
Responses by the Delegation
The Government had issued numerous procedures regarding the termination of pregnancy for women suffering from certain diseases, or in cases where pregnancy could endanger the health of the mother or embryo. In cases of sexual abuse, rape kits were provided. There had been a decrease in maternal deaths compared to the two previous years. Contraceptives were provided through mobile health clinics spread throughout the country. Family planning services provided obstetric care immediately after delivery in rural areas. Around 60 of these centres had opened in 2025 alone, with around 127 of these centres spread across the country. Workshops had been organised to educate rural women on contraception and family planning. Guides had been developed for newlyweds on sexually transmitted diseases to reduce cases.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert said the gender pay gap remained high in the workplace, approximately 35 per cent, and the rate of informal work remained high. The Committee welcomed initiatives supporting women’s entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises. Only around 20 per cent of women held bank accounts, according to the World Bank, and low income and economic resources constrained women’s economic ability to leave violent relationships and rebuild their lives. The Committee was concerned that some amendments to the personal status law may negatively impact women’s economic opportunities.
What measures had the State taken to promote the economic empowerment of girls, including returnees and survivors? How did the State ensure the protection of the economic rights of women and girls in the context of marriage and divorce, including in the context of child marriage? How did the State party ensure the alignment of personal status law 188 with women’s economic and social empowerment?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said several national programmes had been launched to enhance equality and participation in the workplace. One of these initiatives was the launching of the riyada initiative, to enhance young researchers skills and knowledge to better seek entrepreneurship. Medium sized projects were available, benefitting over 5,000 women, providing loans and finances to help women and girls in conflict affected situations. Twenty-five per cent of the loans from banks were given to the widows and women who had suffered from the conflict.
Progress was ongoing, but economic empowerment was a difficult matter. It was difficult to encompass all men and women in Iraq. The Central Bank had taken measures to ensure the inclusion of all citizens, and there had been measurable progress in entrepreneurship and financial inclusion since 2019. Women had benefited from loans issued under the Ministry of Employment. Initiatives had been launched to support agricultural and industrial labour.
More than three million families received cash support. Among these were women-headed households, including divorced women or those whose husbands were missing. Despite the challenges, the Government was striving to achieve progress in this area. The women in business council initiative had been launched to support two women in business through advice and consultations, and to secure loans with favourable terms for their business through Iraqi banks. More than 4,000 Iraqi business leaders were women, and many women had received loans to set up their own projects. State contracts had been amended to allow women to secure contracts with the Government.
Questions by Committee Experts
An Expert said the Committee commended the Government’s efforts to provide safe spaces for sports in schools. How were women’s sports being encouraged at universities? How did the State intend to develop sports and culture in rural areas? What was being done to overcome socio-cultural obstacles?
Another Committee Expert said there was a lack of integration between gender policies and policies on disabilities. How did the amendment to law 28/2013 make it possible to implement access to basic services for women and girls with disabilities? Was there data available on the impact of public policies?
Women who were deprived of their liberty faced overcrowding, confessions extracted under duress, and lack of reasonable accommodation for women with disabilities. What was the total number of women, and their age and ethnicity, who were deprived of their liberty, and why were they in prison? How would the draft law on alternatives to imprisonment benefit women? What specific initiatives existed to investigate all aggression against human rights defenders and to establish a protection mechanism? The Committee had information that some human rights defenders had been forced to leave their villages and been persecuted for their involvement with the Committee.
An Expert asked about the role of the Higher Committee for the Advancement of Rural Women? What was being done to change patriarchal stereotypes in Kurdistan? Iraq was among the countries most impacted by climate change, forcing many young men to migrate to populated cities, leaving women behind to care for farmland. Women were being forced to travel further away from their households to search for water and food, exposing them to risks. What steps were being taken in Iraq and Kurdistan to ensure the full participation of women and girls in climate change adaptation plans? How was a gender perspective being implemented into relevant policies and programmes? The Committee noted the continued invisibility of Afro-Iraqi women; what measures were in place to address their continued stigmatisation and marginalisation?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there was no discrimination against Afro-descendants in Iraq and they lived freely in the country. Iraq had acceded to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012 and had established a specific committee in this regard. There were more than 1.8 million women with disabilities in the country. Iraq aimed to provide them with healthcare, wages and fulltime assistance for those who could not live their lives independently.
Iraq was one of the countries most affected by climate change in the world, and it had formed the national team for climate support. The agricultural returnees programme was launched, targeting thousands of women to produce dairy products. The dairy supply chain was strengthened through providing women with milk pasteurisation equipment.
Iraq was following international standards regarding the treatment of inmates in penitentiary services. Education opportunities for inmates were being stepped up, to better enable their reintegration into society. The Ministry of Justice had adopted plans over the past few years to expand the detention centres to address issues of overcrowding. Overcrowding in women’s prisons was not a problem compared with men’s prisons.
Around 63,000 women had benefitted from an agricultural project aimed at empowering rural women and bolstering their resilience to climate change. The State’s legislation was the best defence for human rights defenders, as well as the professional behaviour of the police, which acted as the main guarantor to ensure complaints did not reoccur. Iraq was proud not to have a single prisoner of opinion, unlike several countries in the region.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert said the Committee was concerned about legal provisions which allowed the husband to punish the wife as well as violence which existed within the home. There was also impunity for so-called honour crimes, and marital rape was not recognised. When would Iraq rescind these provisions? When would domestic violence be recognised as a crime without exception? When would mitigating circumstances be done away with? How would the State ensure that the adoption of the new Jaafari code would not violate women’s rights when it came to child custody?
Child marriage was still reportedly widespread, with a significant proportion married before the age of 15. What immediate measures would Iraq take to ensure marriage registration and protect the rights of women in forced unions? What was the status of polygamy in the State party and how were women’s rights protected in polygamous marriages? Many persons had been sentenced to death in the country. Would Iraq publish data on women sentenced to death? The Committee recommended that Iraq withdraw its reservation to article 16.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the article which allowed the husband to beat his wife was no longer enforced, since the verdict of the Iraqi Supreme Court. No violence against wives and children was permitted under the Iraqi Penal Code. Article 409 provided mitigating circumstances for a husband who killed his wife after finding her in an inappropriate position with her lover, and punished him with three years’ imprisonment. This did not consider the gender of the victim or the perpetrator. In this case, the article was punishing the circumstances of the murder. If the behaviour was premeditated, the murderer would have the full punishment imposed on them. Recently, the Iraqi Sovereign Court had ruled that women could also benefit from these mitigating circumstances under the Iraqi Penal Code.
Closing Remarks
RANGITA DE SILVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, urged the delegation to withdraw reservations to several articles; it was time to fully comply with the Convention. The Committee needed Iraq to be at the forefront of upholding the national global order. The time was ripe for Iraq to commit to withdrawing those reservations.
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the fruitful dialogue. Iraq was a great country, and Ms. Haidar had confidence that the Committee would be heard after this great dialogue.
SAYWAN BARZANI, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said it was urgent to look at challenges related to women’s rights and public policy in Iraq. There were challenges at all levels, including limited financial and human resources, hate speech and online crime, limited vocational training for girls, and the need for increased support for survivors, among others.
ZAIDAN KHALAF OBAID, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq for Human Rights, said Iraq believed in cooperation with the Committee, which would make it possible to strengthen women’s rights. The meeting had been a great opportunity to highlight the progress achieved and developments in the field of women’s rights. The recommendations and concluding observations would be considered when strategies were being drawn up, to ensure Iraq met its obligations under the Convention.
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